The birth of a child is a joyous occasion that is celebrated in various ways around the world. Each culture has its unique customs and traditions, each with its own significance and meaning. One such custom involves giving gold to the child to ensure their prosperity throughout life. Other customs, such as planting a tree in honor of the child’s birth or placing a ducat under their head, are also practiced in different regions.
In some places, it is customary to give women chicken soup after giving birth to restore their strength and ensure they have enough milk for the baby. In others, it is tradition to “disorder” the yard of new parents by littering it with various items such as feathers, paper, and straw as a way to celebrate the birth of a child.
In Scotland, it is customary for newborn babies to receive a coin from their grandmother and for other family members and friends to leave coins during their first visit. This tradition is believed to bring happiness and prosperity to the child. In Sweden, it is customary for fathers to cut umbilical cords and place babies on mothers’ breasts as a way to signify parenthood responsibility.
In Japan, Okuizome food ceremonies are held for children when they turn 100 days old to ensure they never go without food throughout their lives. In Madagascar, various customs and rituals related to childbirth include wearing face masks and respecting the tradition of not leaving home for seven days after birth.
In India, children have kajal black paste applied on their eyelids to protect them from evil spirits and infections. This tradition has been passed down generationally and is believed to keep children healthy and protected in Zambia; mothers bathe newborns in liquid made from tree roots’ roots’ roots’ roots’ roots’ roots’ roots’ roots’ roots’ roots’ roots’ root